From the Guidelines
Exclusively breastfed infants have a reduced risk of overweight and obesity later in life, reduced risk of infections, and positive effects on cognition, as supported by strong evidence from recent studies 1. These infants receive all their nutrition from breast milk alone, which provides complete nutrition for the first six months of life. Breast milk contains antibodies, enzymes, and white blood cells that help protect babies from infections and diseases. It also contains the perfect balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins needed for infant development. Some key benefits of exclusive breastfeeding include:
- Reduced risk of ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea compared to formula-fed babies
- Reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), obesity, diabetes, and certain allergies
- Positive effects on cognition and societal development
- Economic benefits, with every $1 invested in protecting and promoting exclusive breastfeeding estimated to generate $35 in economic returns 1 However, exclusively breastfed infants should receive vitamin D supplementation of 400 IU daily starting shortly after birth, as breast milk alone doesn't provide sufficient amounts of this vitamin, as generally recommended in pediatric practice, although not explicitly stated in the provided evidence 1.
From the Research
Benefits of Exclusive Breastfeeding
- Exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant mortality due to common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea or pneumonia, and improves recovery time during illness 2
- Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is recommended as it provides numerous short- and long-term health benefits for both the baby and its mother 2, 3
- Breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive development, and protects the infant against infectious and chronic diseases 2
- Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months experienced less morbidity from gastrointestinal infection and showed no deficits in growth 3
Protection Against Infections
- Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months provides greater protection against respiratory tract infection, including pneumonia and recurrent otitis media 4
- Breastfeeding may protect against ear, throat, and sinus infections well beyond infancy, with children breastfed for ≥9 months having lower odds of past-year ear, throat, and sinus infections 5
- High breast milk intensity (>66.6%) during the first 6 months is associated with lower odds of sinus infection 5
Cognitive and Psychomotor Development
- Breastfeeding promotes brain development, especially of the white matter, and is associated with improved intelligence by about 2 IQ points 6
- Breast milk contains a variety of immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial substances that help to reduce short- and long-term morbidity risks and positively influence the child's cognitive and psychomotor development 6
Other Benefits
- Breastfeeding does not have an influence on the risk of allergies, neither in the overall population nor in children with a familial predisposition 6
- Breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus 6
- Breastfed infants can largely regulate their food intake, which can have a positive effect on later eating behavior and the risk for becoming overweight 6